Experienced nurses: What do student nurses do that drives you nuts?

Nurses General Nursing

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And what do we do that you like/appreciate? I'm kind of worried that just my being there (and sort of "in the way") will be enough to drive the nurses bonkers. Anything we can do to make it better for you?

Specializes in Gerontology.

I wish the instructors would tell us nurses a little more about the students. I hate coming in and suddenly there are students there, its their first day and they are just "shadowing" the nurses. Suddenly, I'm trying to get through my mornings meds/vitals/care while trying to show the student something, but I have no idea what her/his skill set. Can they do care? Have they passed meds yet? Can they help me lift a pt up in bed or feed a pt?

telling me "these are x year students doesn't help because every college/universtiy moves their students though clinicals at a different pace and with different expectations. College A - the students can't do anything unless they've done it in a lab first. University B on the other hand, they can only do it if the instructor wants to help them. And College C- well, they are too busy writing care plans, reading charts and talking to actually do any care.

So Students, don't get mad when the nurses don't seem all excited and happy to have you shadow- it could just be that they don't know what you want to learn and where you are in your skill set!

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Specializes in LTC, SICU,RNICU.

A New Nurse or a soon to be new nurse should always ask questions! A new nurse who doesn't ask questions, is a dangerous nurse!

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
Just because you don't want to work psych doesn't mean you can't learn something. Psych diagnoses and psychotropic meds are everywhere in health care.

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Amen to that! I had some pts at the peds hospital where I worked who were on psychotropic meds, and I have even more now that I am working as a public health nurse with kids in the foster care system -- sometimes the kids are on psych meds, sometimes the parents, sometimes both. I'm not giving the meds any more, but it still helps to know what they do!

I firmly believe that a nursing student can learn something from every clinical rotation, no matter how far removed it is from the type of nursing they eventually hope to do, as long as they have an open mind about it.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Please please please don't interrupt me during report.

And don't argue with me on a patient's activity orders. I know it says "as tolerated" but he's comfort care, can't move his lower extremities and fades in & out of consciousness. He's bedrest.

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CHAIRS! Ugh! Just today 2 female nurses were standing while 3 male STUDENT nurses hogged the corner computer and were TEXTING... I was floored. I went up there, and asked ALL 3 to go get vitals and quickly had the nurses "reclaim" their chairs.. how disgusting!

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
CHAIRS! Ugh! Just today 2 female nurses were standing while 3 male STUDENT nurses hogged the corner computer and were TEXTING... I was floored. I went up there, and asked ALL 3 to go get vitals and quickly had the nurses "reclaim" their chairs.. how disgusting!

Oh no freaking way dude! Seriously?!?! Some tough love needs to be administered...STAT!

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

I really like having student nurses. The only thing that aggravates me is when I have already got report and then I have to give the student nurse report on that same patient. Sometimes I have 4 different student nurses and I have to find the time to give them report again. Some evenings it is just so busy and I do not have the time for this. The student nurses need to find out who the nurses are and be ready to listen to report when it is being given. Other than that I enjoy having the students.

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In a nursing home, it's best not to interrupt while staff are working on the floor. I'm amazed at how little the instructors leave them alone...and don't know the basic operation of a nursing home. When you have 10 students coming down the hall...where's the bathroom...can that res. Drink water...do you know where the rm.100 is...one nurse taking care of 30 residents..and a flock of students...watch out !!

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Just show up with donuts.

I agree with bringing donuts...I have done that already at the end of my clinical semester. It shows that we appreciate the nurses time and help they have given us students

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Specializes in LTC.
In a nursing home, it's best not to interrupt while staff are working on the floor. I'm amazed at how little the instructors leave them alone...and don't know the basic operation of a nursing home. When you have 10 students coming down the hall...where's the bathroom...can that res. Drink water...do you know where the rm.100 is...one nurse taking care of 30 residents..and a flock of students...watch out !!

And its the nurse at the med-cart who is always asked 200 questions.

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Some of my instructors in clinicals required that we finish the care plan before we left for the day and we were really HOUNDED to do so.

I like how organized the clinical instructors are from Kaplan College San Diego. They walk up to the nurses with the shy students giving them their full support while the student says x,y and z. I think they are the best I have ever seen. Their students tell me what two patients they are taking care of, if they are passing meds on any of them or not, and what they will do that day and if they can chart. They also give me report when they leave.

My school always posted a paper that said what year the students were in and what they could do. Every student had a copy of that paper as well so they knew what they could do too.

I don't see students as being in the way. I'm glad they are there to help. :)

I think my biggest mistake as a student was being so shy and feeling as if I were bothering someone or in the way. I want to encourage students not to feel that way and don't make that your biggest obstacle. I know it was mine and it really hindered me.

You are there to learn so jump at the chance for any experience you can get!

I remember at the end of my clinicals everyone showed up with lots of goodies for the staff and how much it was appreciated. After I was a nurse, I remember one time the students only brought piddlly! We were all astonished to not get yummies! LOL So please do participate and bring good stuff at the end! :D

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As a fellow nursing student, I had pondered this same thought, "Just what am I supposed to do?" I soon found out that answer...

First of all, we aren't allowed to use the nurses station, unless we're getting information from a patient's chart, getting supplies, or contacting our patient's nurse/CNA/the charge nurse; we are fortunate enough to be able to use an empty patient room to put our things and take a quick break (if we have time).

Our responsibilities are simple, we take care of the patient that day, in any way, shape, form, or fashion that we are legally allowed to do; this includes physical assessments, vital signs, administering medications, bed baths, assisting the nurse in certain procedures, etc.

All of our paper work must be done after clinical time is over, period! If we are caught doing this while another student is struggling, we're the ones getting busted! For example, one girl's patient was discharged as soon as she went into his room, the nurse literally followed her in the room, and she asked the instructor what to do, she was simply told "Help someone, there's always something to learn!"

We also assist the nurses as much as we can, we can't start an IV, but we can go to the supply room and get more tape, another start kit, etc. And, because of being able to observe these different procedures, I've learned somethings before my fellow classmates, like setting up a sterile field and doing a dressing change. One of my classmates was shown by the nurse how to do an IV, the only thing he didn't do was insert the line!

Of course, some of my classmates aren't that eager... A few run out of the room as the nurse enters, while I want to observe, if neither the patient or nurse care, and learn as much as possible.

My theory is a simple one: I'm there for a reason, and the nurses have already learned the information, so I may as well learn what I can. After all, the instructors aren't the only ones that can teach you!

But, there are some nurses who look at us like pests, and while I try to chalk it up to them having a "bad day," it is a little annoying. Although, I guess if I were trying to do my job, and I had someone looking over my shoulder or always bugging me, I might get annoyed, too!

I guess it's all in how you look at it, from the nurse's side, or from the student's side...

Oh, and good luck in school!!! :)

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